Circuit closer



April 17, 192s. J. W. DENNISTON CIRCUIT CLOSER Filed May 19. 1926 /ff nell l 1 nvemtoz,

a Snor/umso Patented Apr'. `1-1, 192s.

UNITED STATES JONATHAN W. DENNISTON, F BEDFORD, INDIANA.

CIBSU IT CLOSER.

Application mea my is, 1926. Serna No. 110,245.

This invention relates to a circuit closer, designed primarily for useupon motor vehicles, one of the objects being to provlde a novelstructure whereby when the same is moved out of a normal position, bythe tiltin of the vehicle or in any other manner, it wil act to closethe circuit controlled thereby.

A further object is to provide a means whereby the device can beadjusted for actuation by a very slight movement of the- .vehicle or bymore extensive movement, as

preferred.

With the foregoing and other objects 1n view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the combination andarrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter defscribed and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise'embodiment of the invention disclosed may be made within the scope ofwhat is -claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings the preferred form of the invention hasbeen shown.

. the casing of the circuit closer, this section being formed of amaterial which will not be a ected by mercury but which constitutes agood conductor of electricity. This section is adapted to be fastened ona supporting structure b any suitable means, as by fasteners exten ingthrough a ertured ears 2. Detachably connected to t e upper end of thesection l is a coupling ring 3 formed of insulating materialand whichalso engages the top member 4 of the casing. This top member is likewiseformed of a material which will not be affected by mercury but whichconstitutes a good conductor of electricity.

A ring 5 is supported within the central portion of the upper member 4by means of two oppositely extending ins 6 of conducting material andmounte within this ring is a cap 7 connected to the ring b means ofoppositely extending pins 8. 'Ilhe pins 8 are disposed at right'anglesto the pins G and it will be apparent, therefore, that these pins andthe ring provide a universal onnection between the cap 7 and the memer4. l

Connected to the bottom of the cap 7 is a frusto-conical tubular member8 formed of an insulating material which will not be aected by mercuryand to the bottom of this member 8 is/connected a cup 9 formed of amaterial which is not affected by mercury but which constitutes a goodconductor of electricity. The cup 9, insulating member 8 and cap 7cooperate to form a pendulum and within the cup 9 is provided somemercury indicated at 10 and which constitutes a part of the circuitclosing medium.

A contact disk 11 is supported within the Cup 9 normally out of contactwith the mercury 10, this disk having a threaded stem 12 extendingupwardly therefrom through and engaging the cap 7, there being alrounded head 13 at the upper end of the stem as shown. A holding meansis provided in the upper portion of the casing for preventing movementof the pendulum.

This means includes a stem 14 slidable and rotatable within an opening15 in the top of member 4. At the lower end of the stem 14 there isprovided a foot 16 having a recess designed to receive the head 13. Acoiled spring 17 is mounted on the stem 14 and bears at one end againstthe foot 16 and at its other end against the top portion of l the member4. A lug 18 is extended radially from stem 14 and is slidable within agroove 19. It will be apparent that by pulling the stem 14 upwardly thelug or stud 18 can be withdrawn from the groove 19 and by then givingthe stem a partial rotation this lug or stud 18 will be brought toposition away from the groove 19 and rest upon the top surface of thesection 4 so as to support the foot 16 `out of contact with the head 13and to hold the spring 17 under compression. This is the position of theparts when set for actuation.

A body provided within the lower member 1 so as to lsurround the lowerportion of the pendulum. A binding post 21 is connected to the member 1and is electrically connected to one terminal of a battery 22 or othersource of electrical energy, it being understood that a switch 23 Acanbe located where desired for the purpose of opening and closing the ofmercury indicated at 20 is i circuit. Any suitable electrically operateddevice, such as an alarm 24 which can be `in the form of a bell, a,light or the like, is electrically connected to the other terminal4 ofbattery 22 and to a binding post 25 connected to the member 4. When theswitch 23 is closed it -will be apparent that a tilting'of the casing 1in any direction will resultV 1n agitation o :fjthe mercury 10 whichwill be caused to come against thefdiskll. This will complete thecircuit because the cup 9 is Vconstantly electrically connected to themember '1 by the mercury and the current will therefore flow from thedisk 11 through the stem 12 to thepins 8, rin'g9 and pins 6 and thenceto the member 4. By adjusting the disk 11 toward o r from the surface"of the mercury the apparatus can be made more or less delicate inaction. Whenit is desired to holdv the pendulum' against movement thepin 14 is rotated so that the lug or stud 18 can move downwardly withinthe groove 19 under the action of the spring 17. The foot 16 will engageandbear upon the head 13 and hold the pendulum against movement.

While the pendulum is set Ifor operation the Swingin movement thereof ismore or less retarde by the mercury 2O so that excessive vibration whilethe vehicle is in mo- .tion 1s avoided.

tions of conducting material but insulated from each other, said portionbeingincluded in a circuit, a hollow pendulum suspended within thecasing from the upper member for swinging movement -in any direction,

said pendulum being electrically connected to the upper member of thecasing, the lower portion of the pendulum constituting aconltainerofconducting material insulated from the upper portion which isconnected to the casing, a contact suspended within the pendulum fromtheupper portion thereof, a

mercury conductor-,interposed between the lower portion of the pendulumand the lower member of the1 casing, and a mercury conductor within thelower portion of the pendulum and normally close to but out of contactwith the contact within the pendulum.

2.`A device ofthe class'described including a casing having upper andlower por- -included in a circuit, a pendulum having upper and lowerportions of conducting material and an intermediate connecting ortion ofinsulating material, said pendu um having a -universal connectionwithand electrically connected -to the upper member of the casing, acontact electrically connected to the upper portion of the pendulum andsupported withln'the lower portion of the pendulum, a conductiniuid'within the lower portion ofthe pendu um with 'its level normallyclose to the contact, and a conducting liquid within the lower thecasing and surrounding the ower portion of the pendulum;

3. A device of the class described including a casing, a pendulummounted for universal swin 'ng movement therein, said pendulum inc udingupper and lower conducting portions insulated from each other, the lowerportion constituting a container,v a conducting .liquid inter sedbetween the lower porton of the pen ulum and the lower portion of thecasing, a liquid conductor within the lower portion of the pendulum, anda contact within the pendulum movable with the pendulum, said contactbeing adjustable relative to the surface of the conducting liquid withinthe pendulum.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto axed mysignature. Y

Y JONATHAN W. DENNISTON.

ortion of

